Friday, April 30, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

So, today is the last day of the Spring Fling. I had a lot of fun doing it, but I will admit that I've been running out of steam towards the end here. And it will probably be quite a while before I do another blog series here. =) I want to thank everyone who joined in or who is planning on doing the Spring Fling on their blogs sometime in the future. Today's post of "whatever tickles my fancy" will be more terrariums from Etsy...are you sick of them yet? I found a quirky mushroom/toadstool button in my button tin to stick in mine after I make it. =)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

In the next 365 days, I hope to be almost finished with my college classes. In a little over a year from now, I'll hopefully be graduating...I also hope that I will have made a simple quilt for my bed, made a dress that actually fits me perfectly, and a few other things. I hope that I will be closer to God than I am right now.

Here's a little confession. I do not have a green thumb. In fact, that's almost putting it too nicely. I cannot seem to grow anything. It all started when we received an invitation to my cousin's wedding over a year ago that was printed on seed paper. It had instructions to plant the paper and it would grow. I planted it in this flower pot I had decorated years ago and was so excited when a bunch of tiny green stems grew up. The next day, they had fallen over and died. Yeah. I tried all sorts of things...overwatering, underwatering, watering "just enough," but this cycle happened over and over. Then I came across some bamboo. My dad warned me to be really careful because it'll grow like crazy and take over everything. I planted some bamboo in the pot, and nothing ever happened. Plants are not my friends.

Over the weekend, my brother and his girlfriend bought me this tiny little kit from Target. I think it was about $1, and it includes 10 sunflower seeds, a little soil, and a tiny pot. You're supposed to transplant them when they get 3 inches tall. So I planted them Sunday, put the little pot on my windowsill, and have been patiently waiting. Yesterday, I ran downstairs to my parents to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. See:

And now it's even a tiny bit taller. The only problem is that earlier today I was letting some water drip from the faucet onto the soil to keep it moist, and I bumped the handle and water started pouring into it. I tried to salvage things, but who knows? I probably drowned it. However, this tiny glimmer of hope has inspired me to finally make that terrarium I've been planning on making.

I fell in love with glass terrariums when I saw the movie "Penelope" for the first time. See, she has all these gorgeous glass ones sitting on pedestals all around her room. I think they're so beautiful, so I've been planning on making one.

Today I stopped by my favorite store, Hobby Lobby, to peek at the glass containers, and nearly got banned for life in the process. See, there was a really pretty one that I picked up to look at. I placed my hand on the lid and flipped it over to check out the price and *crash*! The lid fell onto the floor, and the noise echoed through the whole store. All I could say was, "Oh, no!" This lady behind me said, "Yes, you'd better walk swiftly away." But I just stood there and started picking up the big pieces, and then two employees appeared from nowhere with a broom and dustpan. Apparently, this happens all the time. And of course, this was the only jar on the shelf that didn't have the seal around the lid to help keep it on. I was thinking that I was going to have to buy it since I broke it, but I didn't. Good grief. So I grabbed this quirky little jar and my 99 cent Simplicity patterns and ran for the door (stopping at the cash register first).

I think it'll work perfectly. The book is there to show the size of the jar. I'm really exciting about trying to make a terrarium: they're supposedly super easy, and the most amazing part is that you rarely have to water them. They're supposed to be foolproof...but then again, so is bamboo. If this doesn't work out, I might have to resort to growing something indestructible. Like kudzu.

And to finish up this wannabe "green" post, I have some pictures of my mom's flowers in our yard. Having a green thumb apparently skipped over me. My parents and grandparents can grow anything.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

This year, 2010, in *little* detail: Happy New Years! I reluctantly took down my aluminum Christmas tree and started my second semester at the community college. We started keeping my cousin's adorable little baby girl. I turned 19. I bought a lot of books. I read a lot of books. I did a lot of homework. I played with a lot of little kids. I bemoaned my lack of time to watch classic movies. I became the Queen of Procrastinators. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone a hundred times! That's my year up until today. =)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

Okay, so I missed a day. I made it this far and then missed a day. Oh, well. =) School has been crazy, but I can almost take a deep breath because it's almost over! I have done four presentations over the past few days, and had more assignments due. This is my last week of classes, and then exams next week. Then some time off! Finally. Not much, but a little. =)

My week, in *little* detail: Do homework. Work on projects. Sift through a terribly boring Sociology textbook to find answers for questions. A little reading and "The Andy Griffith Show."

My month, in *little* detail: April Fool's Day-nearly have a panic attack in class because my teacher tells us we're having a test that was scheduled for the next week. April Fools! I also turned 19. =)

Sunday, April 25, 2010

I was so excited to finally get my hands on this book! I picked it up Thursday at the local Christian bookstore. It's "So Over My Head," by Jenny B. Jones.

So this is the third book in the "Charmed Life" series. These books are about Bella Kirkwood, a New York girl who's getting pretty comfortable with her new life in Truman, Oklahoma. I wrote a tiny bit about the first two books here. Bella has a talent for nosiness and solving crime (with her amazing, hilarious sidekick Ruthie), and this time the story revolves around a suspicious, sinister murder at the Fritz Family Carnival that's camped out in town. Oh, and there's also the weird behavior of Christina, her dad's fiancee (that Bella has to investigate in order to stop the upcoming wedding), the tension between her mom and stepdad, who is superbusy and gone most of the time with his wrestling career, and some major jealousy and confusion in her relationship with the handsome, annoying Luke.

To sum this book up in a few words:Murder. Ice cream. Trapeze acts. Eavesdropping. Fire. A VW Bug (okay, so I'm partial to them). A collie named Peg Aurora Smith. A sidekick manual. A map and a riddle. Ice cream. A vicious ex-girlfriend. A pink flashlight. Feathers. A weird guy named after a pasta dish. A wedding (or not?). Ice cream. Clown wigs and a unicycle ballet.

If that doesn't have you interested, then I don't know what will. I loved this book. Probably more so than even the first two- I am so attached to the characters by this point. The book was so hilarious and far-fetched. I have absolutely no critical thinking/crime-solving abilities, so I live out my detective fantasies through Bella. I could not put this book down until I found out how things turned out. For crying out loud, I cried at the end. Does that make me a complete nerd? Don't answer that question- just read the book. I also really liked the "All Access" feature...there were little asterisks scattered through the books that referred to notes in the back, with little fun facts about Jenny B. Jones. I really recommend "So Over My Head."

If you can't get your hands on the book right now (you really should read the other two first), you can still head over to Jenny B. Jones' blog, which is just as funny as her books.

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

My day, in great detail. Well, I woke up later than usual this morning. Almost 8:00. I put in my contacts, washed my face. Then I went downstairs, where my parents were cooking pancakes, and skimmed over the weekly Target ad, looked at the USA Weekend, and checked to see what was on sale at Hobby Lobby this week (Simplicity patterns= 99 cents! Yes). I ate breakfast, brushed my teeth, and plugged in my curling iron. Then I came up in my room to check my email and read a few paragraphs of "So Over My Head," by Jenny B. Jones (great so far! Review coming when I finish) while my computer was starting up. That's my morning so far. The rest of my day will involve curling my hair a little, going to Sunday School and church, eating lunch, working on homework, reading my Bible, writing in my journal, and probably a little bit of sneaking in some reading and blog-stalking.

Because I have three presentations/projects due this week! Good grief. And a 5 page family history paper that *gulp* I haven't started yet. I'll probably end up staying home from church tonight to work on homework. But one more week! One more week of classes, then a few days of exams, and then I am out for two full weeks before I start my summer classes. But for the first month, I only have one online class and won't have to go to the campus any. Unless I'm doing work study at the child care center- which I'm seriously considering. Help me pray about it!

And that is my day in great detail (along with some other ramblings). Don't be jealous, because yes, my life is that fascinating. =) Everyone have a great rest of the weekend!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

Friday, April 23, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

I love this song and think this video is just adorable. Gene and Judy are so young and cute together! I always thought that they made a good couple on the screen. I haven't got to see "For Me and My Girl" yet. But I can't get over how Gene Kelly usually comes across as pretty short, but when he dances with Judy Garland he looks so tall (because she was really small).

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

So...today is my *birthday*! And it has been an absolutely lovely day so far. This was a short school day, and I only had one class. My mom made French toast for breakfast this morning. =) I've been blessed with all sorts of amazing gifts! Like:

Seriously. Six new books! Our town has this discount store that has an amazing book section. I'm talking about relatively new releases. They most recently got a ton of Christian books in: books that would sell for $12-$15 in a bookstore. They're $2.99 and $3.99 here. I picked out all of these books for my birthday from that store!

I also got the last Andy Griffith season I needed to complete my set, an Andy Griffith trivia board game, "The African Queen" on DVD (which I'm so excited about watching again), "Snow White" on DVD, the set of the first three "Loves Comes Softly" movies (I guess you could say I collect books and movies), and some other equally awesome stuff. I am so blessed. And not just because all of the amazing gifts I got. Because of the wonderfully quirky family that God picked for me to be born into 19 years ago. =)

So today I'm supposed to post a recipe, which is sort of ironic for my birthday. Because my cooking and baking skills are sorely lacking. Something I really need to work on. If you haven't noticed, I never post recipes. Anyway, every once and a while, I'll break bad and bake something. I have this Elvis recipe book called "Are You Hungry Tonight?" (I am dead serious) that has an amazing frosted brownie recipe. It also includes a recipe for a massive wedding cake just like Elvis and Priscilla's, but let's not get distracted here. I've made this recipe several times before and it's awesome.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 7 x 11-inch baking pan with butter. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add the eggs and beat well. Add the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt and blend well. Stir in the nuts. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overbake. Let the brownies cool in the pan. Frost them, then cut into 12 bars.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

I play the piano.This is a hobby of mine. I have been playing/taking lessons for close to 13 years now. In other words, I should be some sort of piano genius. But sadly, and most unfortunately, I am not. I have no natural talent for the piano. I can only do what I've been taught. So why am I still playing, you may ask? Because I love it.

That's why watching people like Chico Marx, who is obviously a natural, play the piano makes me sick. =) Sick with jealousy. He makes it look so simple.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

Well, about the only talent I have that I can think of is sewing. And that is only a talent in the sense that I love to do it and it comes pretty easy to me. Most of the time. Let's just say that it comes easier than I expected it to, but I still have so much to learn. My most recently sewn items are these bibs. For pictures of almost everything I've ever sewn, click here!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Welcome to the Spring Fling! Don't forget, I'd love everyone to join in! By the way, you don't have to do the Spring Fling this month. Feel free to start it whenever you'd like! To learn more, read this. I now have a button for anyone who's joining me for the Spring Fling (it's located on the sidebar). So here's the plan:

When I saw Millie's new classic movie survey, I knew I had to do it. So, if you're not an old movie fan, I'm sorry that you may find this post incredibly boring. But I am so excited about it! Edit: This survey took me so much longer than I expected! You all already know I have a problem with the word "favorite."

1. Which actors do you always (or did you always) mix-up?Before I was a big classic movie fan, I always heard about Audrey Hepburn and Katharine Hepburn and didn't know the difference between the two. I at least thought they were related. Good grief, what a difference: Audrey is one of my favorite actresses and Katharine one of my least. There are other actors/actresses in old movies that I still get confused if I haven't seen them in many movies, so I tend to clump them in a group, LOL.

2. Gidget or Beach Party?I haven't seen either, LOL.

3. Favorite Movie Outfit?This is so hard. I love vintage fashion, so this is almost impossible. I love everything in "Sabrina," and all of the adorable clothes (and hats) Jean Arthur wore in the late 30's-40's. So I'm just going to go with this one, which I always thought was beautiful: Rosemary Clooney's black dress from "White Christmas."

4. If you could be ANY character in ANY movie...who would you choose?Maybe Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) from "Singin' in the Rain." She gets to wear those adorable 1920's clothes and get romanced by Gene Kelly.

Or Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland) in "In the Good Old Summertime." It's such a sweet movie, and I really like her character.

5. If you could marry ANY character in ANY movie...who would you choose?Right off the top of my head, I'd say Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) from "Roman Holiday."

6. If you could live in ANY movie...which would you choose?I have no idea. I would say Narnia, but those movies aren't classic movies. I can't decide.

7. Black & White movies you wish were in Technicolor, or vice-versa?None really. I really only like movies the way they were meant to be, whether black and white or Technicolor.

8. Favorite Movie Soundtrack?"Singin' in the Rain," of course. I love that soundtrack (my second favorite after "Pride and Prejudice"). All of the songs are so lovely and fun.

9. Favorite Movie Dance Sequence?Only the best one ever...Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain." It gives me chills every time I watch it.

10. Coolest Movie Star?Cary Grant. No contest. =)

11. Sophia or Gina?I haven't really ever seen either.

12. "Isn't It Romantic" in most Billy Wilder films, or "Red River" in most John Ford films?"Isn't It Romantic?", of course! I love, love, love that song.

13. If you could re-cast ANY role in ANY movie, what would it be?Maybe one of Katharine Hepburn's roles, with someone I liked better than her.

14. Favorite movie character with your first name?I don't know of anyone in the old movies who is named "Kristin." =)

15. One movie that should NEVER be remade?Ugh, I hate remakes! No movies made before 1960 (or so) should ever be remade. But especially "Casablanca," "Singin' in the Rain," or "Roman Holiday."

16. Actor or Actress who you would love to be best friends with? I think Audrey Hepburn would make a lovely friend.

17. Are you an Oscar or a Felix?Is it terrible that I had to look this up? Apparently, I'm a Felix.

18. Actor/Actress you originally hated and now love?This is a tough question. I don't hate any actors or actresses, I just dislike a few. I could not stand Katharine Hepburn until "The African Queen." I really liked her (not loved her) in that one. Since then, I've discovered that she's perfect with Spencer Tracy. Other than that, I still don't like her too much. I think she always plays arrogant, conceited, feminist characters, and I can't help but wonder if she was like that in real life.

19. Actor/Actress you originally loved and now don't like?I can't think of any...Usually when I read about classic actors/actresses' personal lives, I become really disappointed in them. But I still can't ignore that they were amazing at what they did on the screen.

20. Favorite performance that was looked over by Oscar?Hello!! Cary Grant! Handsome, hilarious, a wonderful actor! Never got a real Oscar.

21. Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie?I've only seen a little of both, so I can't really say.

22. Hannibal Heyes or Kid Curry?I know nothing about either one.

23. Favorite Style Icon: Fred Astaire or Cary Grant?Honestly, I had never, ever thought of Fred Astaire as a style icon, LOL. He was a great dancer, but I still can't understand how he became the leading man he was. So my obvious answer is Cary Grant, of course! =)

24. Single most favorite movie scene EVER?Maybe the before-mentioned "Singin' in the Rain" title scene/dance. Or the last scene in "Casablanca." Or the opening scene in "Sunset Boulevard" (does that make me a creep?). Or the "Good Morning" dance scene with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor.

25. Movie you really "should" see, but have subconsciously been avoiding for who knows what reason?There are a ton of old movies that I want to see/should see, but haven't got around to it. Like "Psycho" or "The Birds." Or some famous westerns or war movies (which I've been avoiding because I don't like western or war movies, though I haven't really been fair and given them a chance).

26. Movie quote you find yourself most often repeating in real life?None, really. Though I should totally start doing that. I was just thinking the other day that I should start using "As you wish" in regular conversation. There are some great lines out there that could be used every day.

27. 50's Westerns or 60's Spies?So far, I haven't really seen any of either.

28. Favorite splashy, colorful, obnoxious 50's musical?Well, I'm partial to "Singin' in the Rain," which is splashy and colorful but definitely not obnoxious (once you get used to it). So maybe "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

30. If you could own the entire wardrobe of any film, which would it be?Of any film- "Penelope"! I've written a whole post about her clothes. But as far as old movies go, I'd have to say Audrey Hepburn's clothes in "Sabrina." Gorgeous.

33. Favorite movie that takes place in your home-state?The only movie I've seen that takes place in Virginia is "Shenandoah," starring James Stewart. And I wasn't too incredibly crazy about it.

34. Which actors would you want for relatives? (Mother, Father, Grandma, Crazy Aunt, annoying cousin, older brother, etc...)I have no idea. That's tough, because you don't know what the actors were really like when they weren't in the movies. And as for movie characters, that's still too tough. =)